Mechanical thermal motor

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for converting thermal energy such as solar energy into mechanical motion for driving fluid pumps and the like. The thermal motor comprises an inner concentric cylinder carried by a stationary core member having a cylindrical disc plate fixed adjacent a lower portion thereof and extending radially therefrom, and an outer concentric cylinder rotatably carried on the disc plate defining a space between the inner and outer concentric cylinders. A spiral tubular member encircle the inner concentric cylinder and is contained within the space between said inner and outer cylinders having a first portion connected to the inner concentric cylinder and a second portion connected to the outer concentric cylinder. A heated fluid is conveyed through the tubular member and is periodically cooled causing the tubular member to expand and contract, thus causing the outer concentric cylinder to reciprocally rotate on the base plate accordingly. The reciprocating motion of the outer concentric cylinder is then utilized to drive a pump member in a pump chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermal motor for converting heat energy into mechanical motion comprising: a. an inner core member supported on a base structure having a solid cylindrical disc plate adjacent a lower portion thereof extending radially therefrom;   b. an inner concentric cylinder carried by said inner core member;   c. an outer concentric cylinder rotatably carried on said disc plate defining a space between said inner and outer concentric cylinders;   d. a spiral tubular member encircling said inner concentric cylinder and contained within said space having a first end portion connected to said inner concentric cylinder and a second end portion connected to said outer concentric cylinder;   e. means for conveying a heated fluid through said tubular member during a heat cycle; and   f. cooling means for cooling said tubular member during a cooling cycle; whereby said spiral tubular member expands and contracts according to the heating and cooling of said tubular member causing said outer concentric cylinder to reciprocally rotate freely on said disc plate accordingly.     
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of spoke members carried adjacent the top of said inner core member extending radially therefrom to said outer concentric cylinder for containing said spiral tubular member within said space and whereby cooling water sprayed over a top side of said motor may freely pass between said spoke members to contact said spiral tubular member at the end of a heat cycle. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical disc plate includes a vertically extending spiral spacer member for receiving and containing said spiral tubular member reducing friction between adjacent portions of said tubular member as it expands and contracts. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pump housing having inlet and outlet ports, a pump member carried within said housing, connecting means for connecting said outer concentric cylinder to said pump member to reciprocate said pump member in said pump housing to pump a fluid through said pump housing. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: a. said pump member includes a piston rod having a piston carried on one end thereof slideably received in said pump housing;   b. said connecting means includes a linkage arm connected to said outer concentric cylinder and to a free end of said piston rod for reciprocating said piston in saiid pump housing; and   c. said inlet and outlet ports are provided with valves to control the flow of fluid through said pump housing.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a pair of said pump housings and said pump members is provided, said pair of pump members being commonly attached to said linkage arm providing a pumping cycle of fluid through each of said pump housings 180 ° out of phase. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: a. said pump member includes a reciprocating rotary vane member having a central input shaft connected thereto;   b. said connecting means includes gear teeth carried by said outer concentric cylinder, a gear member carried by said central input shaft, and a gear drive assembly meshing with said gear member, said gear assembly being reciprocally driven by said gear teeth carried by said outer cylinder to reciprocally drive said rotary vane member; and   c. said pump housing includes an inlet port and a pair of valved outlet ports which open and close according to the reciprocation of said rotary vane pump member.